Iran DigestWeek of January 27 - February 3

AIC’s Iran digest project covers the latest developments and news stories published in Iranian and international media outlets. This weekly digest is compiled by Research Fellow Shiva Darian and Research Associate Bryan Falcone.

U.S. - Iran Relations

Trump says "Nothing off the table" on Iran, as Republicans plan action

U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to impose new sanctions on multiple Iranian entities, seeking to ratchet up pressure on Tehran while crafting a broader strategy to counter what he sees as its destabilizing behavior, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.In the first tangible action against Iran since Trump took office on Jan. 20, the administration, on the same day he insisted that "nothing is off the table," prepared to roll out new measures against more than two dozen Iranian targets, the sources said. The announcement is expected as early as Friday, they added. (Reuters)

U.S. Planning Additional Sanctions on Iran Following Missile Test

The White House is expected to impose additional sanctions on Iranian entities under existing executive orders that predate President Donald Trump, according to sources familiar with the move.The additional sanctions are in response to Iran's ballistic missile test Sunday. They are similar to actions taken by former President Barack Obama after Iran's previous ballistic missile tests. (CNN)

Iran's President Calls Trump a Political Novice over Travel Ban

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani dismissed his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump as a political novice on Wednesday, stepping up criticism of the Republican's immigration policies including a temporary travel ban on Iranians.Tehran has already said it will take legal, political and reciprocal measures in response to Trump's order suspending the entry of people from Iran and six other Muslim-majority countries. (Reuters)

Nuclear Accord

Trump, Saudi King back 'Rigorously' enforcing Iran Nuclear Deal

President Donald Trump and Saudi King Salman want to "rigorously" enforce the Iran nuclear deal, the White House said Sunday, despite the US leader's long opposition to the agreement.The pair, in a phone conversation, also spoke of the need to address Iran's "destabilizing regional activities," fight the spread of "radical Islamic terrorism" and establish safe zones in war-ravaged Syria and Yemen, the White House statement read. (Yahoo! News)

Economy

Iran to Ditch U.S. Dollar in Official Reports

Iran will stop using the US dollar as its currency of choice in its financial and foreign exchange reports from the new fiscal year that begins in March, announced the governor of the Central Bank of Iran late Saturday. The pair, in a phone conversation, also spoke of the need to address Iran's "destabilizing regional activities," fight the spread of "radical Islamic terrorism" and establish safe zones in war-ravaged Syria and Yemen, the White House statement read. (Financial Tribune)

Women of Iran

Detained 70-Year-Old Woman From Iran is 'Definitely No Threat to Security' Relative Says

Shahin Hassanpour boarded a flight from Iran on Friday afternoon — just a few hours before President Trump signed his executive order banning refugees, migrants and other travelers from Iran and six other Muslim-majority countries. By the time she landed at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Saturday, the order was in effect and her life was suddenly in limbo.Not until Sunday afternoon was she released. (Washington Post)

Environment

Iran to mark World's Wetland Day in Dust Storm - Stricken Khuzestan

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on February 2. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands also known as Ramsar Convention on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.The Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands approved wetlands for disaster risk reduction as the theme for World Wetlands Day in 2017. (Tehran Times)

Inside Iran

Iran to Take 'Reciprocal measures' After Trump's Immigration Order

Iran is carefully studying US President Donald Trump's executive order limiting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries and will take legal, political and reciprocal measures accordingly, Iran's Foreign Affairs Ministry announced Saturday.Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif didn't specify what those measures would be, but he affirmed in a tweet that anyone with a valid visa would be welcomed. (CNN)

U.S. wrestlers banned from Iran World Cup

The competition will be held on Feb. 16-17 and the U.S. Wrestling team was due to attend the competition. But according to Iran's state-run news agency IRNA the Iranian foreign ministry said it had no choice but to ban the wrestlers because of Trump's order.This is the first action by Iran in response to Trump's executive order banning visas for seven Muslim countries, including Iran.Iran said on Saturday it would stop United States citizens entering the country in retaliation to Washington's visa ban against Tehran and seven other majority-Muslim countries announced by new U.S. President Donald Trump. (Tehran Times)

Analysis

The Legal Arguments for and against Trump's Immigration Ban

By: Miles O'Brien

Aside from the national security concerns, the president’s executive order has ignited a fierce debate on its legality and constitutionality.We get two views, from Neal Katyal, a former acting solicitor general under President Obama, and Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University.